Camera lens accessory holder

ABSTRACT

A camera lens accessory holder includes an attachment ring configured to couple to a camera lens accessory such as a lens cap or filter, a base coupled to the attachment ring and a holder mount coupled to the base opposite the attachment ring for removably attaching the holder to an external support structure. The base optionally includes a logo surface facing the attachment ring and optionally includes one or more visual elements such as a logo, text, photograph, or symbol. Some embodiments of a camera lens accessory holder include more than one attachment ring. Other embodiments are provided with means for attaching two holders to each other, one each on opposite sides of a flexible strap or belt. Some embodiments include a clip for attachment of a camera lens accessory holder to a belt, strap, or thin sheet of material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/685,880, filed Jan. 12, 2010, the specificationsand drawings of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is related to holders for accessories that are removablyattachable to camera lenses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various accessories may be attached to a camera lens for controlling theoptical performance of a camera or for protecting the lens. Someexamples of camera lens accessories include lens caps, filters,supplemental lenses, lens hoods, and adapter rings. After an accessoryis removed from a camera lens, it is preferable to protect the accessoryby placing it in a secure, sealed storage container. However, a hurriedor distracted photographer may instead drop the accessory into a camerabag or pocket or place the accessory on a surface of questionablecleanliness. Any dirt or dust transferred to the accessory may later betransferred to a camera lens. Or, camera lens accessories may be damagedor lost by such mishandling.

What is needed is a convenient and secure means for storing camera lensaccessories. What is further needed is a means for storing camera lensaccessories that reduces a risk of transferring dirt or dust from anaccessory to a camera lens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A camera lens accessory holder provides a convenient and secure locationfor storage of camera lens accessories such as lens caps and filters.Embodiments of a camera lens accessory holder include an attachment ringadapted for removable attachment of a camera lens accessory, a basecoupled to the attachment ring, and a holder mount coupled to the basefor removably attaching the camera lens accessory holder to an externalsupport structure such as a camera strap, article of clothing, cameratripod, lighting stand, or the like.

In some embodiments of a camera lens accessory holder, the attachmentring is formed as an integral part of the base. Alternatively, the baseand attachment ring may be formed separately and attached to each otherby adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or assembly of cooperatively threadedsurfaces.

Complementary pieces of hook and loop material, an adhesive layer, aclip, snaps, or a piercing pin may optionally be used for the holdermount. A clip may optionally be formed as an integral part of the base.A clip optionally includes a spring for producing a gripping force on anexternal support structure, or may alternately be formed from a materialwhich generates a gripping force by elastic deflection of the material.

The attachment ring may optionally be configured to hold a camera lensaccessory which threads into either internal or external threads on theattachment ring, grips by displacement of one or more movable elementsheld in place by a spring force, couples with a close sliding fit, or acombination of these methods.

Some embodiments of the invention include more than one attachment ring.A second attachment ring may surround the attachment ring discussedabove or may couple to the base next to the attachment ring. In someembodiments, two camera lens accessory holders may be joined together toprovide secure storage locations for more than one camera lensaccessory.

The base includes an upper surface which may optionally be used fordisplay of one or more visual elements such as a logo, trademark, text,symbol, picture, diagram, or graphic design. The logo surface may be ona physically separate component of some embodiments. The logo surfaceoptionally surrounds an attachment ring or may be visible through anaperture in an attachment ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a pictorial view toward a front surface of a camera lensaccessory holder in accord with an embodiment of the invention having anattachment ring, a base, and a holder mount for removably attaching thecamera lens accessory holder to an external support structure;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view toward a back surface of the camera lensaccessory holder of FIG. 1, showing an example of a holder mountcomprising strips of complementary parts of hook and loop fastenerattached to a back surface of the base;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial view toward a back surface of the embodiment ofthe invention of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a base held against an exampleof an external support structure comprising a flexible strap by stripsof hook and loop fastener material wrapped around the strap;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of two instances of an alternative embodimentof the invention in which opposing, complementary strips of hook andloop fastener material enable two camera lens accessory holders to bejoined together, holding a flexible strap between them;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of an example of a lens cap removablyattached to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of an alternative embodiment of the inventionhaving a clip attached to a back surface of the base, and furtherillustrating a portion of a flexible strap held within the clip;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view of an example of a base and anattachment ring formed together as one integral structure, in which theattachment ring portion is formed with an external lip;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment ofthe invention having an attachment ring with external threads forattachment of a lens accessory and a base joined to the attachment ringby a layer of adhesive;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view of an another example of a baseand an attachment ring formed together as one integral structure, inwhich the attachment ring portion is formed with internal threads forattachment of a lens accessory;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional view of yet another example of abase and an attachment ring formed together as one integral structure,in which the attachment ring portion is formed with an internal lip;

FIG. 11 is a view toward a front surface of an embodiment of theinvention, showing a surface on the base which may optionally be usedfor placement of a logo, text, or graphic design, and further showing anexample of a logo;

FIG. 12 shows a view toward a front surface of an alternative embodimentof the invention having a first attachment ring and at least one moreoptional attachment ring nested within the first attachment ring; and

FIG. 13 shows a view toward a front surface of an alternative embodimentof the invention having more than one attachment ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure is related to holders for camera lens accessories suchas lens caps, filters, supplemental lenses, lens hoods, and adapterrings. A camera lens accessory holder is disclosed that optionallyincludes an attachment ring configured to couple to a camera accessory,a base coupled to the attachment ring and a holder mount coupled to thebase on a side opposite the attachment ring. The holder mount enables acamera lens accessory holder in accord with an embodiment of theinvention to be securely attached to an external support structure.Other advantages of the embodiments of the invention disclosed hereininclude convenient access to camera lens accessories, protection of atleast one surface of the camera lens accessory from dirt, dust, andabrasion, reduction in an amount of dust transferred from a camera lensaccessory to a camera lens, and a holder mount for quickly attaching anddetaching a camera lens accessory holder to a variety of externalsupport structures.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIG. 1shows a pictorial view toward a front surface of an example of a cameralens accessory holder 2, also referred to herein as a holder 2, forholding at least one camera lens accessory. The holder 2 optionallyincludes an attachment ring 4 configured to removably couple to a cameralens accessory, for example by an internal thread 9 on the attachmentring 4. The holder 2 further includes a base 6 coupled to the attachmentring 4. When coupled to the attachment ring 4, a camera lens accessorysuch as a lens cap, filter, or supplemental lens forms an enclosed spaceabove a front surface 19 of the base 6 and bordered on the sides by theattachment ring 4. The front surface 19 of the base 6 is also referredto herein as the logo surface 19. The face of the camera lens accessoryfacing the logo surface 19 is preferably the face which would be closestto a camera lens front surface when the accessory is installed on thecamera lens. By sealing a face of the camera lens accessory into asealed space, dust and dirt is prevented from accumulating on that faceof the accessory. Dirt and dust that is prevented from accumulating onthe face of the accessory is also prevented from being transferred fromthe face of the accessory to a camera lens.

The holder 2 of FIG. 1 also includes a holder mount for removablyattaching the base 6 to an external support structure such as, but notlimited to, a flexible strap or belt, a camera bag, purse, backpack,toolbox, or other container, an article of clothing, or a bracket, lightstand, pole, tripod, or cable. In some embodiments, the holder mountattaches to the base with adhesive. In other embodiments, the holdermount is mechanically retained against the base. In the example of FIG.1, the holder mount comprises pieces of hook and loop fastener material20. Other examples of a holder mount suitable for use with embodimentsof the invention include, but are not limited to, an adhesive layer, aclip, snaps, or a piercing pin.

An example of one of many alternative arrangements of hook and loopfastener material on the back surface of a holder is shown in FIG. 2.FIG. 2 shows a pictorial view toward a back surface of the base 6 forthe holder 2 of FIG. 1. Strips of hook and loop fastener material,including the hook portion 20 and the complementary loop portion 22, areaffixed to the back surface of the base 6. A length of the hook portion20 and a length of the complementary loop portion 22 in FIG. 2 areselected to be sufficient for wrapping around a selected externalsupport structure so as to secure the base 6 of the holder 2 at aconvenient location against the external support structure.

FIG. 3 shows the example of a holder from FIGS. 1 and 2 attached to anexample of an attachment site selected by a person using the camera lensaccessory holder. In the example of FIG. 3, an embodiment of theinvention is attached to a segment of a flexible strap 15 that is firmlyheld between complementary pieces of hook and loop fastener material(20, 22). In FIG. 3, two strips of hook and loop fastener material areshown folded over the segment of strap 15. In other embodiments, adifferent number of complementary strips and different sizes of hook andloop fastener material may optionally be used. In some embodiments ofthe invention, hook and loop material has a selected magnitude ofattachment strength, that is, an amount of force required to separate ahook portion from a loop portion.

Strips of hook and loop fastener material are attached to the base ofsome embodiments of the invention so that pairs of holders may beattached together so as to hold a strap or belt between them. FIG. 4shows an example of two holders 2 in position for attaching to eachother so as to clamp a segment of a strap 15 between them. The upperholder 2 includes a piece of hook material 20 and a piece of loopmaterial 22 attached approximately parallel to each other on the backsurface of the base 6. Hook and loop material is affixed to the base 6with adhesive 24. A lower holder 2 is equipped with a similararrangement of hook and loop material (20, 22) on the back surface ofthe base 6. When two holders 2 are located on opposite sides of thestrap 15, with the back surface of the base 6 of each holder facing theback surface of the base 6 of the other, and with the holders rotated sothat the hook portion 20 of the upper holder 2 is aligned with the loopportion 22 of the lower holder 2 as suggested in the figure by alignmentarrows 30, the two holders 2 may be firmly attached at a selectedlocation on the strap 15 by pressing the holders together. Thearrangement of FIG. 4 permits two or more camera lens accessories to bestored in a convenient location on the strap 15.

FIG. 5 shows a pictorial view of an example of a lens cap attached tothe camera lens accessory holder of FIGS. 1-3. As shown in FIG. 5, acamera lens accessory holder comprising an attachment ring 4, a base 6,and a holder mount 8 comprising hook and loop fastener material 20 areattached to a flexible strap 15. A lens cap 12 of a type sometimesreferred to as a pinch cap includes two slidable tabs 32 which arepressed inward toward the center of the cap to free the cap from acamera lens or camera lens accessory holder. After positioning the lenscap 12 on a camera lens or camera lens accessory holder, the tabs arereleased to cause the cap to grip the lens or the holder's attachmentring. Some lens caps 12 will have sides which are flush with the sidesof the attachment ring 4. Other lens caps 12 will have sides whichextend over the sides of the attachment ring 4, as shown in FIG. 5.

Some embodiments of a camera lens accessory holder use a clip forsecuring the holder to a flexible strap, belt, or other relatively thinsheet of material. An example of a holder with a clip is shown in FIG.6. FIG. 6 illustrates a pictorial view toward a back surface of the base6 of a holder. A holder mount 8 comprising a clip 26 is firmly attachedto the base 6. Alternately, the clip 6 may be formed as an integral partof the base 6. A segment of a strap 15 is held in place between thecompression faces of the clip 26. The clip 26 may optionally be used toattach a camera lens accessory holder to a thin piece of metal orplastic, for example a notebook or clipboard.

In the example of FIG. 1, a holder 2 includes an attachment ring formedwith an external thread 9. FIGS. 7-10 illustrate alternatives to theembodiment of FIG. 1. FIGS. 7-10 represent partial sectional views of abase 6 and an attachment ring 4 at a position marked by a section lineA-A in FIG. 1. In FIG. 7, partial section A-A illustrates a holdercomprising an attachment ring portion 4 and a base portion 6 integrallyformed as one part. The attachment ring portion 4 is shown in FIG. 7with an external lip 18 for holding a camera lens accessory.

A holder comprising an attachment ring 4 and a separately formed base 6joined to the attachment ring 4 by a layer of adhesive 24 is shown inFIG. 8. The attachment ring 4 of FIG. 8 further illustrates anattachment ring 4 having an external thread 10 for holding a camera lensaccessory. FIG. 9 shows another example of a holder with integralattachment ring portion 4 and base portion 6 as in FIG. 7. Theattachment ring portion 4 of the holder in FIG. 9 is formed with aninternal thread 42 for attachment of a camera lens accessory. FIG. 10shows yet another example of a holder with integral attachment ringportion 4 and base portion 6 as in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9. The attachmentring portion 4 of the holder in FIG. 10 is formed with an internal lip17 for holding a camera lens accessory. Any of the examples of FIGS.7-10 may optionally be made with internal thread, external thread, aninternal lip, an external lip, or combinations of two or more of thesefeatures for attachment of a camera lens accessory.

Some embodiments of a camera lens accessory holder are adapted fordisplay of a visual element such as, but not limited to, a logo,trademark, text, symbol, picture, diagram, or graphic design. Visualelements may be prepared by any convenient means such as photocopying,photography, silk screen, printing press, computer printer, and so on.In some embodiments, a visual element is applied to a surface of thebase. In other embodiments, the visual element is prepared as a separatelayer that is subsequently attached to the base. FIGS. 10-12 showexamples of camera lens accessory adapters with visual elements.

FIG. 11 shows a view toward a front surface of a holder comprising anattachment ring 4 and a base 6. The front surface of the base 6 visiblein FIG. 11 is also referred to as a logo surface 19. Text charactersrepresentative of a visual element 14 are shown in a selected locationinside the attachment ring 4 on the logo surface 19.

FIG. 12 also shows a front view of a visual element 14 applied to a logosurface 9 of a base 6. FIG. 12 further illustrates an example of anembodiment of a camera lens accessory holder having more than oneattachment ring. In the example of FIG. 12, a first attachment ring 4 isaffixed to the logo surface 19 of a base 6. A second attachment ring 40is also attached to the logo surface 19 of the base 6, nested within thefirst attachment ring 4.

FIG. 13 shows a plurality of visual elements 14 applied at selectedlocations on a logo surface 19 of a base 6. The embodiment of FIG. 13also includes more than one attachment ring, with a first attachmentring 4 and a second attachment ring 40 attached side by side on the base6. The attachment rings (4,40) are the same size in some embodiments ofthe invention and different sizes in other embodiments of the invention.A different visual element 14 may optionally be applied at each selectedlocation on the logo surface 19.

Any of the embodiments of the invention presented in FIGS. 1-13 mayoptionally have an attachment ring with an outer diameter selected for aclose sliding fit of a lens cap designed to be retained on a camera lensby a simple friction fit.

The preceding embodiments provide examples and are not meant toconstrain the scope of the following claims.

-   -   What is claimed is:

1. A holder, comprising: an attachment ring adapted for removableattachment of a camera lens accessory; a base coupled to said attachmentring; and a holder mount coupled to said base opposite said attachmentring.
 2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said holder mount includes atleast one member of a group consisting of a hook portion of hook andloop material, a loop portion of hook and loop material, an adhesivelayer, a clip, and a piercing pin, with said holder mount configured toattach to said base away from said attachment ring.
 3. The holder ofclaim 2, wherein said holder mount attaches to said base with adhesive.4. The holder of claim 1, wherein said attachment ring includes externalthread configured for coupling to a camera lens accessory.
 5. The holderof claim 1, wherein said attachment ring includes internal threadconfigured for coupling to a camera lens accessory.
 6. The holder ofclaim 1, wherein said attachment ring includes a circumferentialexternal lip.
 7. The holder of claim 1, wherein said attachment ringincludes a circumferential internal lip.
 8. The holder of claim 1,wherein said attachment ring comprises a first attachment ring andfurther comprising a second attachment ring coupled to said base.
 9. Theholder of claim 8, wherein said second attachment ring surrounds saidfirst attachment ring.
 10. The base of claim 1, further comprising alogo surface coupled to said base and configured to receive a logo. 11.The holder of claim 1, wherein said base includes a logo.